Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Frothing Container and Method of Creating a Frothed Beverage
Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to containers for frothing a beverage. The
present
invention further relates to methods of creating a frothed beverage with
frothing
containers; and uses of frothing containers. The present invention finally
relates to
apparatuses comprising frothing containers and steam wands.
Background to the Invention
It is well known to use frothing containers (also called jugs) to generate
micro-
foam from fresh and/or UHT dairy and/or non-dairy milks.
Using conventional froth wands connected to standard coffee machines, a
stream of steam is sent into milk in a frothing container, warming the
beverage and
incorporating air which allows the generation of a layer of foam.
This foam layer needs to present a high thickness, homogeneity and longevity
to be appreciated by consumers who like to enjoy beverage preparations such as
cappuccino, flat white and/or chocolate preparations.
These conventional containers nevertheless require great experience from the
operator to generate such a high-quality layer of foam which essentially
consists of
micro-bubbles incorporated into a milk-water emulsion.
In fact, during the injection of steam from the froth wand, the operator needs
to
simultaneously swill the milk inside the container to allow the incorporation
of steam
and air into the milk and generate the micro-bubbles. This operation requires
a certain
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level of ability to obtain the desired micro-foam, swilling the beverage
inside the jug
while simultaneously checking the correct temperature inside the container in
order not
to burn the beverage. Once the desired temperature is reached (between 60-80
C) the
operator stops the injection of steam and pours the resultant foam over the
beverage
preparations to be served.
The operation of foaming milk furthermore creates a safety risk due to the
fact
the operator must handle the container while steam is continuously injected.
It would be therefore advantageous to provide a solution which would mimic
the behaviour and/or results of using known foaming jugs but provide easy use.
It would be furthermore advantageous to provide a solution which would
overcome safety issues.
In addition, it would be advantageous to provide an easy to use solution which
would ensure a high-quality foam layer, by simply positioning a filled jug
beneath a
steam stream without needing further manual operation of the jug by the
operator.
Finally, it would be advantageous to provide a solution which do not requires
the operator to focus on the jug during the foaming step, allowing to save
operator's
time.
It is therefore an aim of embodiments of the invention to satisfy the highly-
felt
need of an easy to use foaming container to overcome or mitigate at least one
problem
of the prior art whether disclosed herein or not.
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Summary of the Invention
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a container for
frothing a beverage comprising a side wall and a base which define an inner
volume,
and an opening for filling said inner volume with a beverage, characterised in
that the
interior surface of said base and/or side wall comprises at least a primary
protrusion
and/or a primary depression, connected thereto and/or formed therein.
In some embodiments the primary protrusion may comprise a convex protrusion
and/or the primary depression may comprise a concave depression. In some
embodiments the primary protrusion comprises a dome or dome-shaped protrusion
extending from the base. In other embodiments the primary depression may
comprise
a well or pocket formed in the base, which in some embodiments may be dome-
shaped.
In some embodiments said base, primary protrusion and/or primary depression
may further comprise an impingement. Said impingement may comprise a secondary
protrusion and/or secondary depression, which may extend from the primary
protrusion
to into the primary depression, and may be arranged to split the flow of fluid
flowing
towards the primary protrusion, primary depression and/or base of the
container. The
impingement may thus generate turbulence in the flow of steam exiting the
froth wand,
in particular close to the primary protrusion, primary depression and/or base
of the
container.
In preferred embodiments the primary protrusion may comprise a convex
protrusion and the impingement may be in the form of a secondary protrusion
which
extends from the convex protrusion. In some embodiments the or each secondary
protrusion may be positioned centrally with respect to the convex protrusion
and/or said
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base. In such embodiments the combination of a primary convex protrusion, from
which extends one or more secondary protrusions, creates a particularly
effective
turbulence generating surface for steam from a steam wand to be split and form
desired
bubbles or microbubbles.
In further embodiments the secondary protrusion and/or depression may be
independently selected from the group of: a V-shaped cross-sectional
protrusion or
depression, a U-shaped cross-sectional protrusion or depression, a hemisphere,
a spike,
a cone, a bead, and a wedge.
The or each impingement may have a length of between lmm and 50mm or of
between 1% and 50% of the height of the inner volume of the container.
The secondary protrusion or depression may have a height of no more than 50%,
40%, 30%, 25% or 20% of the height of the primary protrusion or depression.
The secondary protrusion or depression may extend no more than 3 cm, 2 cm,
1.5 cm or 1 cm from the primary protrusion or into the primary depression.
In some embodiments the primary protrusion and/or depression may be
integrally formed with the base and/or side wall, or fixedly connected
thereto. In other
embodiments the primary protrusion and/or depression may comprise an insert
removably connected to the side wall and/or the base.
In some embodiments, the secondary protrusion and/or depression may be
connected to or formed into said insert. The insert may comprise a base and/or
side wall
connector, such as hook, resilient clamp, bayonetted connector, threaded
connector
(such as a screw thread) and/or snap on connector.
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The insert may comprise a frame or basket on which is formed or connected the
primary protrusion and/or depression. In some embodiments the insert may
comprise a
substantially cylindrical insert having a base and peripheral side wall, with
the primary
protrusion and/or depression on the base of the cylinder.
5 The primary protrusion, primary depression and/or base may comprise a
plurality of impingements. Said plurality of impingements may be arranged in
an
ordered pattern. The pattern may be an ordered matrix, such as 2x1, 2x2, 3x1,
3x2, 3x3,
4x1, 4x2, 4x3, 4x4 or the like, for example, especially at least a 2x2 matrix.
The pattern
may comprise a swirl, spiral, circle, regular polygonal shape, or the like,
for example.
In further embodiments the plurality of impingements may be randomly arranged.
In some embodiments the or each impingement may be arranged substantially
at or towards the centre of said base. Alternatively, the or each impingement
may be
arranged to be eccentric with respect to the centre of said base the base.
In further embodiments the or each impingement/ may be arranged on the side
wall.
The container may comprise handling means such as a handle and/or gripping
portion. In other embodiments the handling means may comprise a thermally
isolating
chamber such as a thermal jacket. The gripping means may comprise a textured
portion
of the container, which may also be insulating, in some embodiments. The
handle may
comprise an insulating material.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of
creating a frothed beverage or a frothed component of a beverage with a
container of
the first aspect of the invention comprising the steps of: filling said
container with a
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beverage or component thereof; immersing a steam outlet of a steam wand in
said
beverage or component; supplying steam through said steam wand into said
beverage
or component.
In some embodiments the beverage or component comprise milk, a creamer or
a milk substitute. The milk may comprise whole, skimmed, semi-skimmed or UHT
milk, for example.
According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a use of a
container
of the first aspect of the invention for frothing a beverage or component of a
beverage.
The use may comprise using the container in combination with a steam wand of
a beverage preparation machine.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus
for
creating a frothed beverage comprising: a container according to the first
aspect of the
invention; a steam wand; and a steam supply.
The apparatus may comprise a coffee machine.
According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a system for
frothing a beverage or a component of a beverage, the system comprising a
beverage
machine having a steam wand, and a container of the first aspect of the
invention. The
beverage machine is preferably a coffee machine.
Detailed Description of the Invention
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, embodiments
thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the
accompanying drawings of which:
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Figure 1 illustrates a cross sectional view of a first embodiment of a
container
for frothing a beverage according to the first aspect of the invention;
Figure 2 illustrates a cross sectional view of the embodiment of Figure 1 with
highlighted steam flow directions when steam is injected into said container
during the
foaming process.
Figure 3 illustrates a cross sectional view of an impingement in the form of a
secondary protrusion of the first aspect of the invention.;
Figure 4 illustrates a cross sectional view of a second embodiment of the
first
aspect of the invention;
Figure 5 illustrates a cross sectional view of a third embodiment of the first
aspect of the invention;
Figure 6 illustrates a cross sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the
first
aspect of the invention;
Figure 7 illustrates a cross sectional view of a fifth embodiment of the first
aspect of the invention, comprising a container with an insert.
Referring to the Figures, like numbers represent like components.
Referring firstly to Figure 1 a side cross-sectional view of an embodiment of
a
container (1) for frothing a beverage is shown.
The embodiment comprises a container (1) for frothing a beverage comprising
an opening (2) into a side wall (4) which is connected to a substantially
circular base
(6), which together define an inner volume (7) of the container (1). The base
(6)
comprises an inner surface (60) which faces the opening (2) and an outer
surface (61)
which represents the external bottom of the container (1). The two surfaces
(60, 61)
define a primary protrusion (600), generally dome-shaped, which extends into
the inner
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volume (7). Protruding from the inner surface (60) of the protrusion (600)
toward the
inner volume (7) there is provided an impingement in the form of a secondary
protrusion (8). The secondary protrusion is generally conical spike-shaped.
The
container (1) further comprises a spout (10) extending from the side wall (4)
and a
handle (12) extending from the side wall (4) in a position diametrically
opposite to the
spout (10).
The side wall (4) of the container (1) has a substantially cylindrical shape,
but
is also partially tapered to form a truncated cone shape, where the largest
diameter
corresponds to the base (6) of the container (1) and the smallest diameter
corresponds
to the top opening (2) or vice versa.
In other embodiments the base (6) can have a different shape such as for
instance
square, oval, or polygonal.
The spout (10) extends from the perimeter of the opening (2) along the side
wall (4) toward the base (6) for at least half of the height of the container
(1) and tapers
inwardly towards the base.
Diametrically opposite to the spout (10) on the side wall (4) a handle (12) is
provided to allow the operator to safely lift and use the container (1) when
its surface
is heated by the steam injected into the beverage. The handle (12) is in the
form of a
standard handle for cups, but different handles can be used. For example, any
handling
means which allows insulation of the container (1) with respect to the
operator's hand
during the foaming process can be used. This includes a thermally isolating
chamber
and/or gap (such as a thermal jacket) between the internal and external
surfaces of the
side wall (6) and/or thermally isolating gripping materials directly and/or
indirectly
applied to the external surface of the side wall (6), as for example polymeric
material
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such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate
(PET),
polylactic acid (PLA), polyamide (PA), polycarbonate (PC), rubber, silicone
and/or a
combination thereof, wood and/or glass can be used.
The protrusion (600) of the base (6) of the container (1) of Figure 1 confers
to
the base a domed shape from the apex of which an impingement in the form of a
secondary protrusion (8) extends toward the inner volume (7). Said impingement
is in
the shape of a conical spike, having an inverted V cross-sectional shape, but
other
shapes can be used for instance a truncated cone, hemisphere, wedge, or bead
shape,
for example. In further embodiments (not shown) the V shape of the secondary
protrusion (8) can be reversed to extend into the domed protrusion (600) of
the base
(6), forming a secondary depression, and so that the apex of the V shape
points away
from the opening (2) of the container (1) towards the outer surface (61).
The secondary protrusion (8) is furthermore positioned at substantially the
centre of the inner surface (60) of the base (6), but other positions are
possible, for
example an eccentric position with respect to the centre of the inner surface
(60) can be
selected.
In addition, although secondary protrusion (8) of the container (1) of Figure
us
a single impingement, in other embodiments there may be multiple impingements
distributed in a structured pattern, for example in a matrix and/or in a
circle or
concentric circles. These multiple impingements can also be distributed
randomly on
the inner surface (60) of the primary protrusion (600) and/or base (6).
In other embodiments the base (6) can also present a primary protrusion (600)
which is partially set in and spaced apart from the side wall (4), rather than
extending
from the periphery of the base at the side wall. The secondary protrusion (8)
can be
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placed on this primary protrusion (600) in a central or in an eccentric
position with
respect to the primary protrusion (600). Furthermore, multiple secondary
protrusions
(8) can be used and arranged in a structured and/or random pattern.
In some embodiments the primary protrusion (600) can be positioned on the
5 side
wall (4) and secondary protrusion/protrusions (8) can be placed on the primary
protrusion (600) in the same way as described for Figure 1. In these
embodiments the
primary protrusion (600) is not part of the base (6), but it projects
laterally from the side
wall (4) toward the inner volume (7). In these embodiments the primary
protrusion
(600) can partially or entirely engage the side wall (4) of the container (1),
being
10
positioned and projecting from the side wall (4) along the side wall (4)
perimeter
towards the inner volume (7), in order to directly and/or indirectly intercept
the stream
of steam coming out from a conventional steam/froth wand, in use. Such
protrusion
(600) can also comprise a secondary protrusion (8), which intercepts the steam
stream,
splitting the steam flow and generating an intense turbulent movement inside
the
beverage. The secondary protrusion (8), when positioned beneath the steam
stream of
a steam/froth wand intercepts the stream and splits the steam flow deviating
it in
multiple directions, radially, allowing the generation of a whirling movement
(e.g.
turbulence) within the beverage which facilitates incorporation of air and
therefore the
creation of a fine foam.
Referring now to Figure 2, a container (1) as described in Figure 1 is
represented
in side cross-sectional view, together with an indication of steam flow
direction (14)
during the foaming process (from a steam wand, not shown).
In use the container (1) of Figures 1 is filled with a beverage to be foamed
or a
component of a beverage to be foamed. This beverage, or component, can be
fresh
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and/or UHT milk (skimmed or whole) and/or a non-dairy milk as for example oat,
rice,
coconut, almond, soy milk. Other beverage preparations can be chocolate
preparations
for instance. The container (1) is then positioned by the operator beneath the
froth wand
of a conventional beverage preparation machine (such as a coffee machine, for
example, not shown) in such a way that the outlet or nozzle of the froth wand
is
immersed into the beverage and points generally towards the secondary
protrusion (8).
Steam is then sent to the froth wand to foam the beverage. After having placed
the jug
beneath the steam flow direction it can be left in this position, without
needing further
manual operation of the jug by the operator. The container (1) is kept in the
same
position during the whole foaming process. The steam flow accesses the inner
volume
(7) along the direction (14) and is intercepted by the secondary protrusion
(8) which
splits the steam flow radially, allowing the generation of a turbulent flow
which creates
a vortex which allows incorporation of steam and air, generating a fine foam.
Once a
certain temperature is reached (between 60 and 70 C) the foaming process is
stopped
and the steam flow is interrupted and a finely foamed beverage is obtained.
A preferred shape of said secondary protrusion (8) for use in a container of
the
invention is shown in Figure (3). A secondary protrusion (8) comprises a cone
shape
(80) having a cone body (84) and a flat toroid structure (82) projecting
around an outer
surface of said cone body (84). The secondary protrusion (8) of Figure 3 may
be used
in the container (1) of Figure 1 or any other container.
Referring now to Figure 4, a side cross-sectional view of a further embodiment
of a container (11) of the invention is shown.
The container (11) comprises a base (16) which includes spaced apart inner
(160) and outer (161) surfaces. The inner surface (160) is concave and its
perimeter
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abuts an internal surface of a side wall (15). The inner surface (160) forms a
primary
depression in the base (16).
In these embodiments when a stream of steam is injected into the container
(11)
it hits the concave surface (160), deviating its direction and generating
turbulence
within the beverage contained in the container (11). This turbulence allows
incorporation of air generating a fine layer of micro-bubbles (micro foam).
Referring now to Figure 5, a side cross-sectional view of a further embodiment
of the container (21) of the first aspect of the invention is shown.
The container (21) comprises a side wall (24) and a base (26), which is
defined
by an inner (260) and outer (261) surface, defining a primary concave
depression. A
single secondary protrusion (28), in the form of a conical spike is positioned
substantially centrally on the inner surface (260) of the base (26), extending
into the
inner volume of the container (21).
The secondary protrusion (28) can comprise multiple protrusions and can be
placed centrally or eccentrically with respect to the base (26) centre. In the
case of
multiple protrusions these can be displayed in a random and/or regular
structure/deployment.
The secondary protrusion/protrusions (28) can also be of the same type as
described in Figure 3.
In some other embodiments the inner and outer surfaces of Figure 4 and 5 (160,
161 and 260, 261 respectively) may form a flat base, rather than a concave or
convex
base. Single or multiple protrusion/protrusions can be placed centrally or
eccentrically
on the flat base. Said protrusion/protrusions can be as described for Figure
3.
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In some other embodiments a primary depression can be generated on the side
wall (4) for example a concave area formed in the side wall (4), and
impingement/impingements in the form of secondary protrusion/protrusions can
be
placed within this depression in the same way as described for Figure 1.
Referring to Figure 6, a side cross-sectional view of a further container (31)
of
the invention is represented.
Said container (31) comprises a side wall (34) and a base (36) defined by an
inner and an outer surface (360, 361). The inner surface (360) of the base
(36) has a
concave shape. An impingement in the form of a secondary depression (38) has a
V
cross-sectional shape or conical spike shape and extends into said base (36).
The secondary depression (38) is in the shape of a cone formed or cut into the
base (36), but any further shape can be used, for example a hemisphere, a
wedge or
cubic shape. There may be a single secondary depression (38) or multiple
secondary
depressions, which can be placed centrally or eccentrically with respect to
the base (36)
centre.
Multiple protrusions and/or depressions can be displayed in a random and/or
regular pattern/deployment.
The containers (1, 11, 21, 31) of Figures 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 can be made of
stainless-
steel material, ceramic and/or polymeric substrates and/or a combination
thereof
Referring finally to Figure 7 a container (701) is shown with an insert (700)
connected thereto, to form a container of the first aspect of the invention.
The container
(701) includes a flat base (706) and a side wall (704) extending around the
base (706).
The insert (700) comprises connecting means (702) to connect said insert (700)
to the side wall (704) of the beverage frothing container (701). The insert
(700) includes
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a primary protrusion (760) in the form of a dome-shaped base which further
comprises
an impingement in the form of a secondary spike-shaped protrusion (708)
extending
from the top of the dome-shaped primary-protrusion (760).
The insert (700) is removably connected to said state-of-the-art beverage
frothing container (701) through said connecting means (702) which may
comprise for
instance a hook, a resilient clamp, a bayonetted connection, a threaded
connection (such
as a screw thread) and/or a snap on connection, depending on the configuration
of the
edge of the side wall (704).
The insert (700), when connected to the container side wall (704), forms a
primary protrusion extending from the base (706), within the container (701),
thus
transforming the container (704) to a container according to the invention.
The primary and secondary (760, 708) protrusions may be of the type already
described for the embodiment of Figure 1 and 3, for example.
The insert (700) can be made of stainless steel, polymeric substrate, rubber
.. silicone, glass, ceramic and/or a combination thereof, for example.
In use, once inserted into the state-of-the-art beverage frothing container
(701)
and fixed to the side wall (704) through the connecting means, the insert
(700) operates
as described for the container (1) of Figure 1 and 6.
All of the containers (1, 11, 21, 31, 701) of Figures 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7 can
be
used directly beneath a steam wand of a beverage machine, particularly a
coffee
machine, and filled with a suitable beverage material or component, such as
milk.
